MBMB mayor may be replaced

Move follows parking fiasco

MELAKA: Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) mayor is likely to be replaced following the recent privatised parking fiasco, leading to the torching of a parking booth at Taman Nirwana in Klebang Besar here.

The mayor is said to be the first top state government official to be re-designated to another department.

A reshuffling exercise involving high-ranking state civil servants was embarked by the new state administration to reduce insubordination between heads of departments and executive councillors.

Since Jan 1, the employment contracts of 11 state civil servants were not extended in a move seen as purging those who were unable to work with the new administration.

The privatising of parking bays at 13 commercial centres by MBMB had earned the wrath of the state government.

This was after its implementation had bypassed the prerequisite approval from the Housing, Local Government and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Tey Kok Kiew.

Questions emerged on why the privatised parking commenced on Jan 1 without public announcement and was awarded to individuals linked to the previous administration.

Checks showed the parking concessions at various commercial centres here were actually approved in 2017 but the con- tracts were only awarded in December last year.

Eight of the operators started collections on Jan 1 while five others were supposed to follow suit until the state government announced an immediate halt, following the torching incident on Jan 4.

Soon after the state government further curtailed the powers of four local councils in implementing or granting any contracts to companies, especially those involving the collections of money from the public.

Besides MBMB, the new directive was issued to Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council, Alor Gajah Municipal Council and Jasin Municipal Council.

Tey said the new directive was meant to improve the system and keep any mismanagement in check.

It is also learnt that Chief Minister Adly Zahari had summoned an urgent meeting with exco members to discuss the private parking fiasco.

A decision was reached to re-designate certain top state government officials, who were deemed as making their own decisions.

When contacted, state Agriculture, Entrepreneur Development, Agro- based and Co-operative Committee chairman Norhizam Hassan Baktee confirmed there would be a new mayor soon.

It is learnt the state government had decided to stick to its election pledge to provide free parking to locals during weekends.